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May 11, 1921. 1,629,294

N. J. NOBLE THRASHING MACHINE Filed Oct.4, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1jzuenlorr 1,629 94 M y 17, 1927' N. J.- NOBLE ,2

THRASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 was? 1, 2 M 1927'N. J. NOBLE 6 THRASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 May17, 1927. 1,629,294 N. J.,NOBL.E

THRASHING MACHINE Filed not, 192:: s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 17,1927.

"UNITED STA as PATENT OFFICE,

NEWELL J. NOBLE, OF NOBLEFORD, ALBERTA, CANADA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT ANDMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE DUSTLESS THRESHER PROMOTION COMPANY, LIM-ITED, A CORPORATION OF ALBERTA, CANADA.

THPJASHING MACHINE.

Application filed October 4, 1923, Serial No.

The invention relates to thrashing inachines, and particularly has to dowith the grain-separating instrumcntalities incorporated. in suchmachines.

The purpose of the invention'is the provision of an improved grainseparator which is characterized in its coitistruction, arrangement andoperation by numerous hereinafter described features of novelty whichare adapted to accomplish the separation in an extremely efficientmanner.

The present-separator includes, as one of its most salient features, aplurality of alternately disposed grain-blowing devices and separatingcompartments which communicate in series. In the operation of theseparator, the unthrashed grain enters the first grainblowing device andis forcibly discharged therefrom into the first separating compartmentwhere the grain thrashed as a cnsequence of such forcible dischargeflows in a rapidly moving stream to the thrashed-grain outlet and thelighter residual straw and still unthrashed grain settle from the streamof thrashed grain and are discharged into the next succeedinggrain-blowing device the cycle defined by the operation of the fir tgrain-blowing device and its associated separating compartment beingrepeated in each succeeding grain-blowing device and separatingcompartment until all of the tl'irashed grain is discharged from thetl'irashed-grain outlets in the separating conipartments and all of theresidual straw is discharged from the last grain-blowing device.

1Vhile the foregoing statements are indicative of the nature of theinvention, other purpiY-es and advantages not herein specilirallyreferred to will be appreciated by those skilled in the art of thrashingupon a full coi'nprehension of the novel features presented in theconstruction, arrangement and operation of the separator.

Inorder that the invention may be readily understood, an exemplifyingembodiment of the same is set forth inthe accompanying drawings and inthe following detailed description. Obviously the invention issusceptible of embodiment in other and varied structural forms withoutdeparture from the essence of the invention and without sacri- 666,549,and in Canada September 24, 1924.

lice of its material advantages; wherefore it is to be understood thatthe drawings and description are to be considered in an illustrative andnot in an unnecessarily limiting sense.

In the drawingsv Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a thrashing machine,showing the separator of the invention as o-peratively assembled with afeeder;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the assemblage;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line 1-4- of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Reference being now had to the drawings, it will be observed that theseparator of the invention is operatively assembled with a suitablefeeder 11 on separate relatively movable portions of a wheeled frame 12.The particular feeder shown is employed in the present disclosure merelyto typify a closed feeder having intake means 13 for receiving bundlesof unthrashed grain and delivery means 14: for feeding the unthrashedgrain into the'proper part of the separator.

The principal portions of the separator 10 are a passageway 15 throughwhich the unthrashed grain is fed from the feeder into the separator; aplurality of alternately dirposed grain-blowing devices 1.6 andseparating compartments 17; a passageway 18 leading from the passageway15 to the first one of. the grain-blowing devices; a heater cylinder 19rotatably mounted in'an enlarged portion 20 of the passageway 18 andintended for optional use in conjunction withthe grain-blowing devicesand separating compartment when the unthrashed grain is in a conditionwhich necessitates such auxiliary treatment; a passage way 21 leadingfrom the last one of the grain-blowing devices and constituting a,blower stack for the discharge of the residual straw; evacuationchambers 22 in communication with the separating compartments forcollecting the thrashed grain discharged thereinto from the same; ashaking screen 23 for cleaning the thrashed grain received from theevacuation chambers; and an elevator 24 for r ceiving the thrashed graindischarged from the shaking screen.

The passageway is an air-tight collapsible conduit which is formed of aplurality of spaced frames on which is supported an imperforate tube offlexible sheet material 26. This construction produces a yieldablecoupling between the separator and the feeder which will conform tovariations in the relative positions between the same and consequentlyneed not be dismantled when the thrashing machine is in transit. v

The grain-blowing devices 16 are a plurality of circular fancompartments 27 in which are housed rotary fans 28. The fancompartmentspreferably four in number-are arranged in a row, and thefans 28 substantially till the compartments and are mounted in atrialalignment on a common operating shaft29' which extends through aperturesin the side walls of the fan compartments and is suitably journaledinbearing brackets 30 carried at the sides of the wheeled frame 12. Atcorresponding points the fan compartments are provided with axial sideinlets 31 which lead to the central. portions of th-e fans and withperipheral face outlets 32 whichlead tangentially from the extremitiesof the fan blades.

The separating compartments 17 are narrow elongated structureswhich are.placed with their longitudinal axes at an inclination to thehorizontal. The separating compartments preferably three in number arearranged in a row, and their lower ends partially encompass and extendbetween the fan compartments 16. -The peripheral out-- lets 32 of thefan compartments open into the separating compartments adjacent theupper walls 33 of the same, whereby to dis charge the material fed intothe fan compartments along the under surfaces of the upper walls. Theupper walls are curved, and tern'iinate at their elevated ends in moreabruptly curved end walls 3 1 which are provided with air inlets 35 intheir upper p or tions and thrashed-grain outlets 36 in their lowerportions. The end walls 3 1, are also provided with straw chutes 37which are arrangedin vertical planes at corresponding sides of theinlets 35 and outlets 36. v

The separating compartments contain straw grates 38, straw batfles 39and air exhausting devices 10. The straw grates 38 are thin blades whichextend vertically in front of the air inlets 35 from the upper walls 33and serve to deflect downwardly the bulk of the residual straw and yetunthrashed grain impelled thereagainst without obstructingthe freepassage thereloetween of the thrashed grain and fine light particleswhich are subsequently acted upon behind thegrates by the incomingcurrents of air at the inlets 35; the baffles 39 are disposed below thegrates 38 to shield the air inlets 35, and are provided with front edgeswhich recede toward the straw chutes in order to deflect laterally intothe chutes straw impinging on the front edges; and the air ex haustingdevices 40 are positioned across the centers of the separatingcompartments and consist of a common stationary tube which is aperturedon the side toward the end walls 3 1, and an encompassing rotary sleevewhich apertured on all sides and provided with radiating teeth tointercept to a certain extent the residual straw and yet unthrashedgrain flowing into the separating compartments. The common stationarytube of the air exhausting devices 410 is con nectcd at its ends withthree air conduits 11. One of the air conduits 41 leads from thestationary tube to the axial inlet 31 of the first fan compartment,another of the conduits leads from the other end of the tionary tube tothe feeder 11 and the other of the conduits communicates with anintermediate portion of the last mentioned con duit and leads to anaxial inlet of the last fan compartment. The three air conduits 11 drawair from the separating compartments and deliver it, in any proportionde sired, to either or all of the points at which they terminate. Inorder to control the delivery, the air conduits 41 are provided withsuitable dampers with which the conduits may be partially or whollyclosed.

The arrangement described for connecting the grain-blowing devices 16and separating compartments 17 in series produces a tortuous thrashingpassage which extends tangentially from the first fan compartment to thefirst separating compartment, then laterally from the first separatingcompartment to the axial side inlet of the second fan compartn'ient,thenv tangentially a ain from the second fan compartment to the secondseparating compartment and so on through all of the fan and separatingcompartments in alternating order.

The grain-blowing devices are preferably of different sizes, anging fromthe first de vice which is the smallest to the last device which isthe'largest, whereby to obtain from each succeeding device an increaseddelivering capacity.

The passageway 18 is an air-tight rigid conduit which communicates atits upper end with the passageway 15 and at its lower end with the axialside inlet 31 of the first fan compartment. The enlarged portion 20 ofthe passageway is cylindrically shaped on a horizontal t 'ansverse axisto accommodate therein the beater cylinder 19, which cylinder mounted onan operating shaft 12 and may or may not be operated in conjunction withthe other portions of the separator. The particular constructionembraced in the beater cylinder 19 is not essenill) tial to the presentinvention since any one of several. types may be used with measurablygood-results.

The passageway 21 leads tangentially from the peripheral outlet 32 tothe last fan compartment, and is a long conduit which terminates, at anelevated point well away from the separator, in a blower stack for thediscl'iarge of the residual straw.

The evacuation chambers 22 extend across the ends of the separatingcompartments and are preferably divided into upper and lower sections.The upper sections are air vestibules and communicate with the interiorsof the compartments through the air inlets 85 in the end walls 3 1 ofthe same; and the lower sections are grain receivers and communicatewith the interiors of the compart ments through the thrashed grainoutlets 36. Corresponding walls of the chambers are provided withadjustable air inlets 41-3 for fit wedged in the meshes ofthe same.

the entrance of the air which is introduced from the upper sections ofthe chambers into the separating compartments through the air inlets 35,and the bottoms of the chambers drain downwardly to constrictedthrashed-grain chutes 44 below which the shaking screen 23 .is arranged.The chutes i i are advantageously provided with valves in the form ofhinged doors for preventing the entrance of air through the chutes.

The shaking screen 23 consists of an upper coarse sieve 45 and a lowerfine sieve 16. The sieves are formed in stepped sections and are mountedin a frame 47 which is reciprocated across a plurality of rollers 18,the rollers being arranged to rotate in contact with the under sides ofthe sieves where by to prevent substances from becoming The thrashedgrain is first deposited on the coarse sieve and past-"es therethroughto the line sieve, leaving any large particles of residual foreignmatter on the coarse sieve to be subsequently discharged from the inclined and overlapping imperforate end 49 of the same. Thethrashed-grain passing to the line sieve is freed thereby of finer particles of residual foreign matter and is subsequently discharged a intoa transverselyextending screw conveyor 50 at the end of the line sieve.The conveyor 50 then carries the then thrashed and cleaned grain to theusual elevator 24.

The separator operates as follows:

The fans of the blowing devices in the separator rotate at a speed ofapproximately 1500 revolutions per minute; the beater cylinder in theseparator, when in use, rotates at. about the same speed in the oppositedirection; and the associated feeder supplies unthrashed grainto theseparator as fast as the latter can efficiently handle the same, the

speed of the feeder being automatically governed by thespeed of the fansof the blowing devices. 7

The unthrashed grain is fed into the separator through the pasageway 15and passes downwardly through the passageway 18, to the axial side inlet31 of the first fan compartment.

If the beater cylinder is being used because of any unusual condition ofthe unthrashed grain, the unthrashed grain is firstwell beaten by thecylinder and then forced downwardly thereby through the passageway 18;but if the beater cylinder is not being used, the unthrashed grainpasses downwardly through the passageway 18 under gravity, or airmovement from the feeder, or both.

The unthrashed grain entering the axial side inlet 31 of the first fancompartment is at once partially thrashed by the beating. action of therapidly revolving fan blades and the reflecting action of the peripheralcompartment wall.

The resulting mixture of the unthrashed grain, thrashed grain, andresidual straw is then ejected tangentially from the peripheral outlet32 of the first fan compartment into the first separating compartment,where the thrashed grain flows under centrifugal force in a rapidlymoving stream along the under curved surface of the upper wall of theseparating compartment to the thrashedgrain outlets 36 in the end wall,and the lighter material, consisting of the yet unthrashed grain and theresidual straw, is drawn downwardly from the stream by the air currentleading from the air inlets 35 to the axial side inlet 31 of the secondfan compartment and to the air exhausting device 4:0, and drains backalong the inclined. bottom of the separating compartment to the saidinlet.

The same thrashing and separating actions are repeated in the second fancompartment and second separating con'ipartmcnt, and are again repeatedin the third fan coinpartment. and third separating compartmentall ofthe grain being entirely thrashed and discharged from the separat' ingcompartments before the residual straw enters the axial side inlet 31 ofthe fourth and last fan compartment and is discharged through the blowerstack.

The grain discharged from the separating compartments passes through theevacuation chamber to the shaking screen, where the grain is thoroughlycleaned and fed into the elevator.

Best results in the operation of the separator are achieved when acareful regulation of the movement of air through the tortuous thrashingpassage is maintained. During the thrashing operation the air inlets 35are intended to deliver into the separating comiilll lit) lit)

partnients strong currentsot air,- which currents upon meeting with theflows of thrashed grain," residual straw and yet unthrashed grainflowing toward the end walls in the compartments serve to"blast from theflows the lighter material whereby to leave only the heavier thrashedgrain for egress past the bafiies 39 and through the thrashed grainoutlets 36. Becauseoi? the manner in which'the air exhausting devices 40are positioned in the separating compartments and connected up, it willbe appreciated that the air entering the first fan compartment to beused as a medium inthe thrashing operation has first been extracted fromthe several compartments. The thrashing operation may be furthercontrolled by regulation of the adjustable air inlets 43.

The separator requires but a small'amount of power for its operationowing to the aligned arrangement of the fans on the common operatingshaft and the absence of any such resistanceas is present where combingheaters are employed toeliec't the separation by a highly frictionalaction; it leaves the thrashed grain in an unusually good conditionbecause the grain is discharged from the separating compartments as fastas it is thrashed and does not remain in the tortuous thrashing passageof the separator with the still unthrashed grain to be crackedorotherwise injured by repeated unnecessary ejectment into the succeedingseparating compartments of the thrashing passage; it embodies a simpleconstruction which is inexpensive to manufacture and is readily accessible for adjustment or repair; it is dustless in its operation, does notscatter residual straw about the machine, and is not affected by Wind;it is self-cleaning and will eject every bit of material fed thereinto;and it requires no special skill in its operation.

The grain-cleaning device embodied in the shaking screen prevents sand,pebbles.

and the like from entering the elevator, and

is self-cleaning whereby to preclude the accumulation of obstructionstherein.

I claim: v

1. In a grain separator, two grain-hlowing devices, an interposedseparating compartment communicating with the outlet of the first deviceand with the inlet of the second device, an unthrashed grain inlet inthe first device, a residual straw outlet in the second device, and a'thrashechgrain outlet in thecompartment. y

2. In a grain separator, two rotary grain blowing devices having axialinlets and tangential outlets,an interposed separating compartmentcommunicating with the outlet of the first device and with the inlet ofthe second device, an unthrashed-grain inlet in the firstv device, aresidual straw outlet in the second device. and a thrashed-grain outletin the compartment.

8. In a grain separator, a plurality of alternately disposedgraiinblowin'g' devices and separating compartments communicating inseries, an unthrashed-grain inlet in the first device, a residual strawoutlet in the last device, and a thrashed-grain outlet in one of thecon'ipartments. I

4. In a grain separator a plurality of alternately disposedgrain-blowing devices and separating compartments communicating inseries, an unthrashed-grain inlet in the first device, a. residual strawoutlet in the last device, and tln'ashed-grain outlets in all of thecompartments.

5. In a grain separator, a plurality of alternately disposedgrain-blowing devices and separating con'ipartments c'onnnun'icating inseries, evacuation chambers communicating with the separatingcompartments, an unthrashed-grain inlet in the first device, aresidual'straw outlet in the last device and thrashed-grain outlets inthe chambers.

G. In a grain separator, a plurality of rotary grain-blowing deviceshaving axial inlets and tangential outlets,a plurality of separatingcompartments disposed in alternation with the devices andcomn'iunicating in series with the same, an unthrashedgrain inlet in thefir'stdevice, a. residual straw outlet in the last" device, and thrzshedgrain outletsin all of the compartments.

7. In a grain separator, a. plurality of 1fEti11-bl0WinQ fans housed incompartments having axial inlets and tangential outlets, a plurality ofseparating compartn'ients dis posed in alternation with the tancompartments and communicating in series with the same, anunthrashed-grain inlet in the first fan compartment, a residual strawoutlet in the last tan compartment, and thrashedgrain outlets in all ofthe separating coinpartments.

8. In a grain separator, a plurality of rotary grainfblowing fans housedin compartments having axial inlets and tangential outlets, a drivingelement on which the fans are mounted in axial alignment, a plurality ofseparating compartments disposed in alternation with the fancompartments and communicating in series with the same, anunthrashed-grain passage leading to the inlet in the first fancompartment, a residual straw passage leading from the outlet in thelast fan compartment and discharging at a point spaced from p theseparator, and thrashed-grain outlets in all of the separatingcompartments. I r V 9. In a grain separator, a plurality of rotarygrain-blowing fans housed in COI11- partments having axial inlets andtangential outlets. a plurality of separating compartments disposedinaIterna'tiOn with the fan compartments and communicating in serieswith the same, evacuation chambers communicating with the separatingcompart- Ill) ments through perforations in correspondihg ends of thecompartments, an unthrashed-grain passage leading to the inlet in thefirst fan compartment, a residual straw passage leading from the outletin the last tan compartment, and thrashed-gram outlets in the chambers.

10. In a grain separator, a plurality of: rotary grain-blowing fans ofsuccessively increased blowing capacities housed in compartments havingaxial inlets and tangential outlets, a plurality of separatingcompartments disposed in alternation with the tan compartments andcommunicating in series with the same, an unthrashed-grain inlet in thefirst tan compartment, a residual straw outlet in the last fancompartment, and means in each of the compartments for supplying theadditional air required by each succeeding fan.

ll. In a grain separator. a plurality of alternately disposedgrain-blowing devices and separating compartments communicating inseries; each of the devices havii'ig a greater delivering capacity thanthe preceding device, and each of the compartments having air inletmeans to compensate for the difference in capacity between the twoadjoining devices.

12. In a grain separator, a plurality of alternately disposedgrain-blowing devices and separating compartments communicating inseries; each oi the devices having a greater delivering capacity thanthe preceding device, and each of the compartments having adjustable airinlet means to compensate tor the difference in capacity between the twoadjoining devices.

13. In agrain separator, tworotary grainblowing fans housed incompartments, a driving shaft on which the fans are mounted in axialalignment, means for feeding the grain to be thrashed into the path oi?movement of one of the fans, and a sepz-trating conipaiitn'ient disposedbetween the devices and comn'lunicating in series with the same' 14:. Ina grain separator, a plurality of rotary grain-blowing fans housed incomparti'nents, a driving shaft on which the tans are mounted in axialalignment, means for -feeding the grain to be thrashed into the path ofmovement of one of the fans, and a plurality of separating compartmentsdisposed in alternation with the devices and communicating in serieswith the same.

15. In a grain separator, two rotary grain-blowing devices having axialinlets and tangential outlets, an interposed separating compartmentcommunicating with the outlet of the first device and with the inlet ofthe second device, means in the compartment for difi'using the currententering from the outlet of the first device whereby to cause theresidual straw to be drawn out of the stream of the thrashed. grain, anda thrashed-grain outlet in the con'ipartment.

16. In a grain separator, two rotary grain-blowing devices having axialinlets and tangential outlets, an interposed separating compartmentcommunicating with the outlet of the first device and with the inlet ofthe second device, transversely arranged deflectors and coacting airinlets in the compartment for diffusing the current entering from theoutlet of the first device whereby to cause the residual straw to bedrawn out of the stream of thrashed grain, and a thrashed-grain outletin the end wall. of the con'lpartment.

17. In a grain separator, a plurality of alternately disposedgrain-blowing devices and separating compartments communicating inseries, transversely arranged deflectors and coacting air inlets in eachcompartment for diffusing the current entering from the outlet of thepreceding device whereby to cause the residual straw to be drawn out ofthe stream of thrashed grain, and a thrashed-grain outlet in the endwall ot each compartment.

18. In a grain separator, two grain blowing devices. and an interposedseparating compartment communicating with the outlet of the first deviceand with the inlet of the second device; said compartment beingcharacterized interiorly with a curved wall along which the outlet ofthe first device discharges and a perforated end wall towards which theoutlet discharges.

19. In a grain separator, two grain-blowing devices, and an interposedseparating compartment communicating with the outlet of the first deviceand with the inlet of the second device; said compartment being characterized interiorly with a curved wall along which the outlet of thefirst device discharges, an inclined bottom draining to the inlet of thesecond device, and a perforated end wall towards which the outlet discharges.

20. In a grain separator, two grain-blow ing devices, an interposedseparating compartment communicating with the outlet of the first deviceand with the inlet of the second device, an unthrashed grain and airinlet in the first device, a residual straw and air outlet in the seconddevice, air inlets in the separating compartment, thrashed-grain outletsin the separating compartment, and means for extracting air from theseparating compartment and returning it thereto through the saidunthrashed grain and air inlet in the first device.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

NEWELL J. NOBLE.

Ill)

